Dear Brothers and Sisters,
A recent report from the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) 2026 ranked Singapore No. 1 in the world for good government, for the fourth consecutive year.
Even more interesting to me is this:
Singapore ranked No. 1 globally for Financial Stewardship.
As Singaporeans, our first response should be to thank God.
The Bible tells us:
“There is no authority except that which God has established.”
— Romans 13:1
This does not mean that every government is perfect, nor does it mean Christians must agree with everything a government does.
But it does remind us that God is sovereign over nations and authorities.
So when we see stability, prudent financial management and long-term planning, perhaps we should pause and say:
“Thank You, Lord, for the government You have allowed us to have.”
But there is something else I find fascinating.
The CGGI recognises Singapore for its financial stewardship.
And that makes me want to ask a more uncomfortable question:
What about our own financial stewardship?
Singapore has spent decades building financial reserves and preparing for the future.
There is wisdom in that.
Governments need reserves because tomorrow may bring a crisis that nobody anticipated.
Likewise, as individuals and families, we should not live recklessly.
The Bible says:
“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
— Proverbs 21:20
There is nothing unbiblical about saving.
An emergency fund is wise.
Planning for retirement can be wise.
Preparing for children's education can be wise.
Investing for future needs can be wise.
But here is where I want us to stop and think.
When does saving become hoarding?
Is your “financial prudence” actually fear?
This is a question we may not want to ask ourselves.
We say:
“I am saving for my future.”
Then we save some more.
“I need to be prepared.”
So we accumulate more.
“I don't know what will happen tomorrow.”
So we accumulate even more.
Eventually, we may have substantial assets, investments and savings.
And yet we still say:
“I don't have enough.”
Enough for what?
Enough for how many years?
Enough for how many emergencies?
Enough for how many properties?
Enough for how much retirement?
Enough for how much inheritance?
At what point will we finally say:
“I have enough.”
This is where Biblical stewardship becomes radically different from worldly financial planning.
The world says:
More is better.
The Bible says:
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.”
— Hebrews 13:5
The world says:
Build your financial fortress.
Jesus asks:
“Where is your treasure?”
The Rich Fool had a savings problem—but not the one you think
Jesus told us about a rich man whose land produced an abundant harvest.
He had a genuine problem:
He had too much.
So what did he do?
He decided to build bigger barns.
His plan was to store more and more so that he could finally relax and enjoy life.
His philosophy was essentially:
“I have enough for many years. I can now take it easy.”
But God said:
“You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.”
— Luke 12:20
Why did Jesus call him a fool?
Was it because he saved?
No.
Was it because he invested?
No.
Was it because he had wealth?
No.
His problem was that he accumulated without considering God.
He had plenty of resources, but no Kingdom perspective.
His barns were getting bigger.
But his heart was getting smaller.
And Jesus concluded:
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
— Luke 12:21
That should make every financially successful Christian uncomfortable.
We can be financially prudent—and spiritually foolish
Think about that for a moment.
We can have a well-diversified investment portfolio.
We can have sufficient emergency savings.
We can own property.
We can have CPF.
We can have insurance.
We can have retirement plans.
We can have a substantial bank balance.
And still be poor toward God.
Why?
Because good financial management does not automatically mean good Biblical stewardship.
The two are not the same.
Financial management asks:
“How do I maximise and protect my wealth?”
Biblical stewardship asks:
“How does God want me to use what He has entrusted to me?”
That is a completely different question.
God does not condemn multiplication. He condemns misplaced ownership.
This is also why I believe Christians should not misunderstand the Parable of the Talents.
The servants were entrusted with resources.
The faithful servants did something with what they had received.
They multiplied what their master had entrusted to them.
And when the master returned, he said:
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”
— Matthew 25:21
Notice the words:
Faithful servant.
Not “wealthy servant.”
Not “successful investor.”
Not “millionaire servant.”
Faithful.
The question is not whether God has given you $10,000, $100,000, $1 million or $10 million.
The question is:
What are you doing with it?
Perhaps the most important financial question is not “How much?” but “Why?”
Why are you saving?
Why are you investing?
Why are you accumulating?
Why do you want another property?
Why do you want your portfolio to grow even larger?
Why do you want to retire with more?
There can be perfectly legitimate answers.
But there can also be answers we don't want to admit.
Fear.
Greed.
Status.
Comparison.
Insecurity.
The desire to control our future.
And sometimes, simply because we have become accustomed to having more.
The problem is that the line between prudence and hoarding can be very thin.
So, how much is enough?
I don't believe the Bible gives every believer a specific number.
There is no Biblical formula saying you must have six months of expenses, $1 million for retirement, or a certain percentage in cash.
Different families have different responsibilities.
Different seasons require different levels of provision.
But I believe every Christian should prayerfully wrestle with this question:
“Lord, how much is enough for me?”
And perhaps an even more challenging question:
“If I already have enough, why am I still accumulating?”
That is where the Holy Spirit may begin to challenge us.
Because perhaps the additional $100,000 in our bank account could be doing something for the Kingdom.
Perhaps the additional investment returns could support Gospel work.
Perhaps the money sitting unused could help someone in genuine need.
Perhaps our children need to inherit not just wealth, but an example of generosity.
Perhaps we don't need another accumulation strategy.
Perhaps we need a distribution strategy.
From building bigger barns to building God's Kingdom
This is not a call to stop saving.
It is not a call to stop investing.
It is not a call to give away everything.
It is a call to put everything under God's ownership.
Save—but don't worship your savings.
Invest—but don't worship your investments.
Build wealth—but don't let wealth build your identity.
Prepare for tomorrow—but don't sacrifice today's Kingdom opportunities because you are endlessly preparing for a tomorrow that may never come.
Paul gives us a beautiful instruction:
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
— 1 Timothy 6:18
Notice that Paul does not tell wealthy believers merely to become richer.
He tells them to be:
“rich in good deeds.”
That is Biblical wealth.
One day, our reserves will not matter
Singapore may continue to build strong national reserves.
And there is wisdom in that.
But our personal reserves will eventually be irrelevant.
One day, our bank accounts will be closed.
Our investments will be sold.
Our properties will belong to someone else.
Our CPF will no longer matter to us.
Our possessions will be distributed.
And we will stand before our Master.
The question will not be:
“How much did you accumulate?”
But:
“Were you faithful with what I entrusted to you?”
1 Corinthians 4:2 says:
“Those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
That is the heart of Beyond Financial Stewardship.
We are not against wealth.
We are not against saving.
We are not against investing.
We are against allowing wealth to become our master.
So, Singapore may have been recognised as having the world's best financial stewardship.
That is something we can thank God for.
But let us not stop there.
Let us examine ourselves.
Are we good financial stewards?
Are we saving wisely?
Are we investing prudently?
Are we providing responsibly?
Are we giving generously?
Or are we simply building bigger and bigger barns?
Perhaps today, instead of asking:
“How much more can I accumulate?”
we should ask:
“Lord, have I accumulated enough? And if I have, what do You want me to do with the rest?”
That is a much more dangerous question.
And perhaps, a much more Biblical one.
May the Lord give us wisdom to know when to save, courage to know when to give, discernment to know when enough is enough, and faithfulness to steward every resource for His Kingdom.
Blessings,
David Poh
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